Tabletop game and game piece therefor

ABSTRACT

A tabletop drinking game includes a game piece having a main body, a plurality of drinking cups held by the game piece and at least one ping pong ball. The main body of the game piece includes a central opening and four outer openings situated radially outwardly from the central opening, each of the openings being formed through the thickness of the main body of the game piece. The central opening is provided so that the game piece may be mounted on and supported by the neck of a beverage bottle, and the four outer openings are provided to removably receive drinking cups.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/052,886, which was filed on Sep. 19, 2014, and is entitled “Tabletop Game”, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference and on which priority is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to games of skill involving a ball thrown by a player and aimed to be received by a receptacle, and more particularly relates to tabletop-based drinking games, i.e., a game in which the losing player or team is required to drink a beverage (e.g., beer).

2.Description of the Prior Art

Games requiring drinking a beverage as part of the game are a very popular activity at many social events. One such popular game is commonly known as “beer pong”. Conventionally, beer pong games utilize a table that can be anywhere from 6.5 feet to 8 feet in length. Opposing players align themselves at opposite ends of the beer pong table and cups are arranged in front of each player, or team of players, in a geometric pattern, commonly a triangle shape comprising six cups (the six cups are ordered in the triangular pattern as follows: three cups form the base row, two cups form the middle row and one cup forms the point or apex of the triangle, which is closest to the opposing team). Each of the cups is at least partially filled with an alcoholic beverage such as beer.

During play, each team alternates throwing a ball, most often a ping pong ball, into the opposing team's cups. If the ball lands in one of the opposing team's cups, the opposing team has to drink the beverage therein and the empty cup is removed from the table. After a predetermined number of cups have been eliminated, the remaining cups are realigned into a new geometric pattern. Typically, the cups are realigned after three cups have been eliminated to form a new triangle (the new triangle is formed with two cups at the base and one cup at the point or apex of the triangle). The player or team that successfully eliminates the opposing team's cups before their cups are eliminated is the winner. Often, the losing team must drink the beverage left in the winning team's remaining cups.

Despite beer pong being an extremely popular drinking game, it conventionally is only played in large residences and areas, as the size of the table restricts play in smaller apartments and dwellings. Furthermore, the large size of the table and the numerous cups filled with beverages thereon often create an extremely messy environment that requires substantial cleaning after a game is completed. As a result, occupants of small dwellings often can only play more compact drinking games, such as “Quarters”.

“Quarters” is played on any conventional table; there are no size regulations as in beer pong. The game is played by bouncing a quarter off the surface of a table in an attempt to make the quarter land in a cup on the table that is at least partially filled with a beverage. There are several variations in the rules of play; however, most commonly, a player who successfully bounces a quarter off the table into the cup may direct another player to drink the beverage in the cup. After the selected player drinks the beverage, the cup is refilled and the last successful player continues to try to bounce the quarter in the cup until he or she misses. When the player misses, the player immediate adjacent to him takes the next shot.

While “Quarters” is a popular game, many people prefer the excitement of beer pong. However, due to the room size requirements to play beer bong, people often lack choice in choosing a drinking game.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tabletop drinking game.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a game piece used with a tabletop game to facilitate the play of a drinking game.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a game piece to facilitate the play of a drinking game that may be fitted over a bottle resting on a table.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a game piece for a tabletop drinking game that holds a plurality of game cups.

It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a drinking game that may be played in a confined area on a table of relatively small size.

In accordance with one form of the present invention, a tabletop game includes a game piece and one or more ping pong balls, and may further include a plurality of drinking cups or receptacles having an open top end. The game piece includes a main body that has a central opening formed through the thickness thereof The main body may include a plurality of projecting arms or sections that extend radially outwardly from the central opening. Each projecting arm or section includes an outer opening formed through the thickness thereof, the outer openings being situated radially outwardly from the central opening.

The central opening of the main body of the game piece is dimensioned with a diameter such that the game piece may be fitted over the neck of a beverage (e.g., beer) bottle. Each of the outer openings formed through the projecting sections of the main body may removably receive and support a game cup, which is preferably a disposable drinking cup. The outer openings are preferably symmetrically oriented circumferentially around the main body of the game piece and spaced equidistantly from each other and relative to the central opening formed in the main body of the game piece. The game piece thus facilitates a drinking game wherein players may throw or bounce a ball, such as a ping pong ball, off the tabletop surface and into the cups held by the game piece until a player has successfully thrown or bounced a ball into each of the cups in a predetermined order.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a game piece forming part of a tabletop game constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the game piece of the tabletop game of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and further illustrating the game piece mounted on the neck of a beverage bottle and holding a plurality of drinking cups.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the tabletop game of the present invention, and further illustrating the game piece of the tabletop game shown in FIG. 2 mounted on the neck of a beverage bottle and holding a plurality of drinking cups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, it will be seen that a tabletop game 1 formed in accordance with the present invention includes a game piece 2 and one or more balls 16, which are preferably ping pong balls or the like, and may further include one or more game play cups or receptacles 8, such as drinking cups. The tabletop game 1 of the present invention is a drinking game, the method of play of which is similar in some respects to that of the popular “beer pong” game.

The game piece 2 of the tabletop drinking game 1 of the present invention includes a planar main body 7 having a central area 5 and a plurality of projecting curved or rounded arms or sections 9 that extend radially outwardly from the central area 5 of the main body 7, each projecting arm or section 9 having a curved outer peripheral edge 11. Alternatively, the main body 7 of the game piece 2 may have a circular, square or polygonal profile when viewed from above or below. The game piece 2 with its main body 7 is preferably formed from wood, plastic or metal, or other material that may hold its shape without flexing, and is preferably about three quarters of an inch (¾) thick. Preferably, the main body 7 of the game piece 2 is formed from a plastic material by injection molding.

A central opening 4 is formed through the thickness of the main body 7 of the game piece 2 and situated in the central area 5 thereof. Preferably, the central opening 4 is about one and one quarter inch (1¼) in diameter. More specifically, the central opening 4 of the main body 7 of the game piece 2 is dimensioned to have a diameter such that the main body 7 of the game piece 2 may be fitted over the neck 14 of a bottle 12 and be supported thereon by the bottle 12, the base of the bottle 12 resting on the top surface of the table such that the main body 7 of the game piece 2 is raised above the top surface by the supporting beverage bottle 12.

There are preferably four curved sections 9 which project from the central area 5 of the main body 7 of the game piece 2, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, such that the game piece 2 somewhat resembles the shape of a four-leaf clover; however, it should be understood that there may be fewer, or more, than four projecting sections 9 included in the main body 7 of the game piece 2. Each projecting section 9 includes an outer opening 6 formed through the thickness thereof, the outer openings 6 being situated radially outwardly from the central opening 4, and more preferably, being situated equidistant and equiangular from the center 5 of the game piece 2. Thus, there may be one or more outer openings 6 formed in the main body 7 of the game piece 2, but preferably there are four outer openings 6 (first outer opening 6 a, second outer opening 6 b, third outer opening 6 c, fourth outer opening 6 d), each of which is positioned on a respective one of the four projecting sections 9. Preferably, the outer openings 6 have a diameter of about two inches (2″), and are provided for holding three ounce (3 oz.) tapered drinking cups 8, each cup 8 being received by a corresponding outer opening 6. Preferably, the enlarged diameter rim or lip 10 of each cup 8 surrounding the open top end 13 thereof rests on the top surface 15 of the main body 7 of the game piece 2 so that the open top end 13 of each drinking cup 8 is substantially flush with the top surface 15 of the main body 7 of the game piece 2, with the remainder of the cup 8 hanging downwardly therefrom and extending through the outer opening 6 so that the cups 8 are suspended by the game piece 2 and are removable therefrom. If the game piece 2 is formed with a circular, square or polygonal-shaped main body 7, the outer openings 6 are equidistantly spaced from each other and from the central opening 4 about the peripheral portion of the main body 7. In an alternative form of the tabletop game 1, instead of using removable drinking cups 8, similarly-shaped, non-removable receptacles may be used and are molded integrally with the main body 7 of the game piece 2 and in alignment with the outer openings 6 formed therein.

Thus, and in accordance with the present invention, the game piece 2 may be fitted over the neck 14 of a bottle 12, such as a beer bottle, wine bottle or soda bottle, that is resting on the top surface of a table, through the central opening 4 formed in the main body 7 of the game piece 2. The bottle 12 may be full, empty, or filled with a material, such as sand, to provide additional stability. The symmetry of the game piece 2 and the outer openings 6 formed therethrough for holding the game cups 8, and the central opening 4 formed therein, allow the game piece 2 to be balanced on, and supported by, the bottle 12 on which the game piece 2 is fitted so that the game piece 2 is raised above the top surface of a table by the supporting beverage bottle 12.

The tabletop game 1 of the present invention, including the game piece 2, one or more balls 16 and the drinking cups 8, is assembled and played as follows. To assemble the tabletop game 1, the game piece 2 is fitted over the neck 14 of a bottle 12 resting on a table by inserting the neck 14 of the bottle 12 through the central opening 4 formed in the main body 7 of the game piece 2. The game cups 8 are then inserted into each of the symmetrically-oriented outer openings 6. The game cups 8 may be filled with a desired beverage, or alternatively, they may be left empty and players may drink from their own cups or bottles. Each of the players is positioned in front of one of the game cups 8. If more than four players are present, the game piece 2 may be rotated on the neck 14 of the supporting beverage bottle 12 such that an outer opening 6 and cup 8 may be positioned to face the player who is actively shooting (i.e., throwing or bouncing off the tabletop surface the ball 16 into a cup 8).

To play the tabletop drinking game 1 of the present invention, the player who is first to shoot tries to either throw or bounce a ball 16, preferably a ping pong ball, into the game cup 8 positioned in front of him on the game piece 2. If the player successfully gets the ball 16 into the cup 8, the player positioned opposite the shooter takes a drink of beverage, either from his own container or from the game cup 8 into which the ping pong ball 16 landed. The game cup 8 may then be refilled. The shooter may then aim for the cup 8 on the game piece 2 to the shooter's right (or left). If the shooter makes the shot (i.e., the ball 16 enters the cup 8), the player positioned to the right (or left) of the shooter takes a drink of beverage, again from his own container or from the game cup 8 into which the ball 16 landed, and the cup 8 is refilled. Thereafter, the shooter may aim for the cup 8 positioned to the shooter's left (or right). If the shooter is successful in getting the ball 16 into the cup 8, the player positioned to the left (or right) of the shooter takes a drink of beverage (i.e., from his own container or from the game cup 8 into which the ball 16 landed, and the cup 8 is refilled). The final shot to be made is the far cup 8 opposite the shooter (behind the center 5 of the game piece 2). If the shooter successfully gets the ball 16 into the last cup 8, all of the players except the shooter take a drink of beverage.

Generally, the shooter will keep on throwing or bouncing the ball 16 until he or she misses getting the ball 16 into a cup 8. If the shooter misses, the cups 8 are refilled (if the cups 8 are filled with a beverage) and the player to the left (or right) of the shooter becomes the new shooter. Preferably, the players rotate clockwise relative to the game piece 2. If the shooter gets the ball 16 into a cup 8 that he is not aiming for, the shooter takes a drink of beverage, loses his turn, and starts back at the beginning cup 8 positioned in front of the shooter.

The game is won when one player throws or bounces the ball 16 into all four cups 8 in the correct, predetermined order. After a player has successfully shot the ball 16 into each of the four cups 8, the remaining players each have one shot to throw or bounce the ball 16 into their respective cup 8 (i.e., the cup 8 positioned in front of them on the game piece 2). If one of the players is successful in landing the ball 16 into his cup 8, the game continues and the player who originally landed the ball 16 in all four cups 8 is moved back to the beginning position (i.e., the cup 8 positioned in front of him on the game piece 2).

It is envisioned to be within the scope of the present invention to have varying rules for playing the drinking game 1, as well as various designs for the game piece 2, including varying sizes of cups 8 and various numbers of cups 8 in different positions on the game piece 2. Furthermore, the compact portable size of the game piece 2, and the materials used to construct it, permit an easy cleanup of the components after game play is over. For example, the components may merely be washed in a sink or placed in a conventional dishwasher.

The tabletop game 1 and game piece 2 of the present invention provide a compact and portable device that permits drinking games similar to beer pong to be played in small spaces where it is not possible or desirous to fit a full size beer pong table.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. 

1. A game piece for the facilitation of a drinking game, which comprises: a main body, the main body having a central opening formed therethrough, the central opening being dimensioned to receive the neck of a beverage bottle, the main body further having at least one outer opening formed therethrough, the at least one outer opening being situated radially outwardly from the central opening on the main body and being dimensioned to at least partially receive and support a game play cup therein.
 2. A game piece for the facilitation of a drinking game as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one outer opening includes a first outer opening and a second outer opening, each of the first outer opening and the second outer opening being formed through the main body and being dimensioned to at least partially receive and support a respective game play cup therein, the first outer opening and the second outer opening being symmetrically oriented on the main body of the game piece.
 3. A game piece for the facilitation of a drinking game as defined by claim 1, wherein the at least one outer opening includes a first outer opening, a second outer opening, a third outer opening and a fourth outer opening, each of the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening being formed through the main body and being situated radially outwardly from the central opening on the main body and being dimensioned to at least partially receive and support a respective game play cup therein, the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening being situated equidistant and equiangular from the central opening.
 4. A game piece for the facilitation of a drinking game as defined by claim 1, wherein the main body includes a central area in which the central opening is formed and at least one outer section projecting radially outwardly from the central area of the main body, the at least one outer opening being formed through the main body and situated on the at least one projecting outer section.
 5. A game piece for the facilitation of a drinking game as defined by claim 4, wherein the at least one projecting outer section includes a curved peripheral outer edge.
 6. A game piece for the facilitation of a drinking game as defined by claim 1, wherein the main body includes a central area in which the central opening is formed and four outer sections projecting radially outwardly from the central area of the main body; and wherein the at least one opening includes a first outer opening, a second outer opening, a third outer opening and a fourth outer opening, each of the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening being fanned through the main body and being situated radially outwardly from the central opening on the main body and being dimensioned to at least partially receive and support a respective game play cup therein, the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening being situated equidistant and equiangular from the central opening, each of the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening being situated on a respective one of the four projecting outer sections.
 7. A tabletop game, which comprises: a game piece, the game piece having a main body, the main body having a central opening formed therethrough, the central opening being dimensioned to receive the neck of a beverage bottle, the main body further having at least one outer opening formed therethrough, the at least one outer opening being situated radially outwardly from the central opening on the main body and being dimensioned to at least partially receive and support a game play cup therein; and at least one ball.
 8. A tabletop game, which comprises: a game piece, the game piece having a main body, the main body having a central opening formed therethrough, the central opening being dimensioned to receive the neck of a beverage bottle, the main body further having a first outer opening formed therethrough, a second outer opening formed therethrough, a third outer opening formed therethrough and a fourth outer opening formed therethrough, each of the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening being situated radially outwardly from the central opening on the main body and being dimensioned to at least partially receive and support a game play cup therein, the main body including a central area in which the central opening is formed and four outer sections projecting radially outwardly from the central area of the main body, each of the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening being situated on a respective one of the four projecting outer sections; and at least one ball.
 9. A tabletop game as defined by claim 8, which further comprises: a plurality of game play cups, a respective game play cup of the plurality of game play cups being receivable and supportable by the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening.
 10. A tabletop game as defined by claim 9, wherein the respective game play cups of the plurality of game play cups are removably received by the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening.
 11. A tabletop game as defined by claim 9, wherein each game play cup of the plurality of game play cups includes an enlarged rim and an open end encircled by the enlarged rim; and wherein the game piece of the tabletop game engages the enlarged rim of each respective game play cup received by the first outer opening, the second outer opening, the third outer opening and the fourth outer opening and supports each respective game play cup by the enlarged outer rim thereof. 